Early Edo Period Wakizashi
SKU: JS-6
Echizen Koku Shimosaka
This product is no longer for sale
- 15.31" (38.89cm) blade length, 0.27" (0.686cm) thick and 1.31" (3.33cm) width at Habaki, 1.16" (2.95cm) width at the tip, 0.23" (0.584cm) curvature (Sori), 22.38" (56.85cm) overall length with Koshirae
- Blade is hadadachi (somewhat loose and coarse grain structure) with fine chikei (thin curved lines along the surface grain)
- Hamon is suguha (straight style) with ko gunome midaire (a mixture of sizes of gonome or rounded shapes)
- There is a nice double row of bohi (grooves) on both sides of the blade
- Includes fine koshirae (mountings), two-piece silver/copper habaki, steel fittings with gold inlays featuring shakudo nanako pine tree, hotei god and children, shishi dog menukes,
- Kozuka has a steel blade and the handle features carving and gold inlays of people riding in a boat
- Black roiro saya has some cracks and chips in the finish
- Also includes a silk brocade storage bag, NBTHK papers, and a full oshigata (tracing of the blade)
- This sword has been certified by NBTHK (The Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords) with a Hozon Token rating (a precious sword worth of preservation)
- The blade is signed Echizen Koku Shimosaka which was a group of swordsmiths in the Echizen province in the late Muromachi and early Edo period (1580-1624). The high quality characteristics of this blade point towards this being made by Yasutsugu the first who was the official swordsmith to the Tokugawa Shogunate. Echizen Shimosaka was taken by the War Lord Ieyasu Tokugawa to forge swords under his supervision, and due to his prowess his Lord allowed him to use Yasu in his name. The smith then changed his name to Yasutsugu and became famous.